City of Orphans

City of Orphans by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good story from Avi, with a tale of turn-of-the-century New York, very poor immigrant families, tough gangs and cruel gang bosses. This book is a detective story wrapped around a family story. The story moves along quickly, and young people today can see how life was quite difficult for the immigrants back in the old days. Children are working for very low wages in unsafe conditions, and there is no one to protect them. Maks, the main character, is a thirteen year-old newsboy, who is not in school, but works selling newspapers on the streets, to help out his family. His older sister, who works in the new, Waldorf Astoria hotel, gets arrested for stealing an expensive watch. It's up to Maks to try to get his sister out of jail. With the help of a new friend, a homeless orphan named Willa, the friends do their best to save Maks' sister.


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Things Not Seen

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very different premise for a serious story--fifteen year-old Bobby wakes up one morning, and when he looks in the mirror, he can't see himself. He knows that he's there, he can feel himself, and he can wear clothing, but, he's invisible. His parents, who he didn't seem to get along with even before this happened, are not taking this well. They want him to hide, to tell no one, and Bobby feels that they are not getting what he is going through, they are only thinking about themselves. He meets a blind girl, Alicia, when he sneaks out to the library, and weirdly enough, they form a quick friendship.  Together they try to find a solution to Bobby's problem. Thought-provoking.


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I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan


I read Lois Duncan's book, Killing Mr. Griffin many years ago, and enjoyed it. I thought it was a good story that 8th graders could really get in to, as Mr. Griffin is a hated high school English teacher. I know that this book, I Know What You Did Last Summer was made into a movie a few years back, so I was looking forward to the story. Unfortunately, it's almost the exact story as Mr. Griffin, the same premise. A group of young people, while out for a fun summer night, mistakenly hit a young boy riding his bike, and leave him for dead. They try to cover this up, instead of "doing the right  thing". A year later, they all start receiving ominous notes, making them believe that someone else knows their terrible secret. The story moves quickly, and does hold some suspense. Again, I think eighth graders will enjoy this..


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2013 National African American Read-In

2013 National African American Read-In
Our Read-In at Maxson is on Thursday, February 28th.

Climbing the Stairs

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very, very good story!This is very different from most of the books in the Maxson LMC. This story takes place in India, just at the start of WWII, which was also a time when the country was rebelling against British rule. The author does a terrific job of taking us inside the life of Vidya, a strong-willed fifteen year-old, who has dreams of going to college. Many Indian women at that time had no rights, and were treated like second-class citizens. There is a terrible attack on Vidya's father, which she feels responsible for, and her life takes a terrible turn. She is able to escape through books, and, a handsome young man who stands up for her. A family story, a story of India and its customs, a love story, all rolled into a well-written novel. I would recommend this to 7th and 8th grade young ladies, but boys may enjoy this, too.


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Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story about a special twelve-year-old girl named Lanesha, who lives in New Orleans with Mama Ya-Ya. It is hurricane season, and Katrina is bearing down on the city. Lanesha is different from most of the 7th grade girls in her school, she has no friends, but Lanesha can "see" ghosts, she sees her own mother almost every day. The writing is beautiful, the tension builds as the big storm is about to hit, and Lanesha does what she has to do to survive. Good story, great characters.


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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting and quirky book, and I have to admit, I don't think I've ever read such a weird story. Peculiar children is putting it mildly, these kids were downright scary. The story involves time travel, WWII, and some scary otherworldly beasts, that come together on a remote fishing island off of Scotland's coast. What was pretty unique about this book, is that there are "real" photographs to go along with the story, and you find yourself studying them. I was fascinated with the story, which becomes a page-turner, and I was slightly surprised at the ending.

This is a first novel for the author, Ransom Riggs, and I can't wait to see what comes next.


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Code Talker

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a WWII story based on real events, and an action novel that young men will enjoy. This is the story of how the Navajo men were trained to be code-talkers for the Marines, to keep the Japanese from learning the plans of the US military. It also tells the tale of Navajo Indians who were told to NEVER speak their native language, and to forget their Indian ways, no matter how painful it was for them. And yet, once the government saw how much they could help the cause of the Allies, they were trained as Marines and were allowed to be themselves. There is a lot of action in this book, with some graphic battle scenes. The author, Joseph Bruchac, a Native American, has crafted a very good war story, as well as a tribute to those Navajo Indians who sacrificed much to help our country in time of need.


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Football Hero

Football Hero by Tim Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good sports story that should appeal to middle school boys AND girls. Yes, there are football action scenes, but there is also lots of drama, family problems, even Mafia problems, enough to keep you turning the pages. Ty Lewis, a 12-year-old whose parents are killed in a car crash, has to live with his alcholic uncle, an aunt who doesn't show any affection, and a strange cousin who doesn't talk. The uncle has a cleaning business,and makes Ty clean toilets after school, instead of practicing with his school's football team. Ty's older brother, Thane, has just been drafted by the NY Jets, and tries to make Ty's life a bit easier. Then, Ty is dragged into a gambling plot with the Mafia, all because of his greedy uncle.
This has some great characters, a terrific plot, and is very realistic because the author is a former NFL player. I think I'll read Tim Green's first YA book, Football Genius in the near future.


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You Don't Even Know Me

You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys by Sharon G. Flake


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have read other books by Sharon Flake, The Skin I'm In, and Money Hungry, and enjoyed both of them very much. She is a popular author here at Maxson, because her writing rings true. This collection of short stories and poems was interesting, and I think will be a hit with both boys and girls. I know she is writing with inner-city students in mind, and so sometimes the stories are a bit hard to take, gritty and sad. I hope that any students who check this book out will find a positive message in her stories.




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Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a wonderful story, with terrific characters, and some good guys and villains. The setting is the 1930's, and so perhaps some background might be needed for middle-schoolers, and the flashbacks bring you to WWI, which many students know absolutely nothing about, but still...
A twelve year-old girl named Abilene is put on a train to the town of Manifest, leaving her daddy behind to work on the railroad. Abilene is not shy, and so makes some friends. She is trying to "discover" her father's boyhood in Manifest, but seems to be running into roadblocks at every turn. There is a mystery in this town, and the three young ladies have decided to try and solve it. And, Abilene is missing her dad, and wondering if he has abandoned her. I loved this book!




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Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning

Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning: Football's Royal Family by Jeanne Nagle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With only 38 pages, lots of pictures and captions, and even some sidebars, this is an extremely readable book about the Manning family. I am big fans of the Manning brothers, and actually remember Archie Manning playing in the NFL (ouch) so I was interested in how the Mannings were raised, what kind of home life they had, etc. This is a good pick for any middle school student, and they should actually be able to finish this in one sitting.


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Blizzard

Blizzard by Jim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent edition to the Maxson Library, this book tells the story of an amazingly ferocious blizzard that hit the East coast in March of 1888. After a particularly mild winter, this killer storm took everyone by surprise. The author, Jim Murphy, does a remarkable job weaving personal tragedies and triumphs with real historical facts. There are great photos and drawings, and just enough scientific information to keep teachers happy, but the story will not be boring to your average reader. I am always fascinated with weather phenomena,and this book is just the right fix for that. I love glimpses into the past, and Murphy allows us to do just that with this book.


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The Slayer Chronicles First Kill

First Kill by Heather Brewer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I have NOT read the Vladimir Todd books, but they certainly were a big hit in the Maxson Library. These books were devoured by the Maxson female students. I decided to read this book, because it is about vampire slayers, and I had had enough of vampires. This book is very violent and a bit gruesome, so I'm sure it will prove to be popular.
The main character, a boy named Joss, has witnessed his sister's horrible death by a vampire. Unknown to Joss, his uncle is a Slayer, and has recruited Joss for training in the summer before he enters 9th grade. Of course, author Heather Brewer ends it on a cliffhanger. I may actually read the next volume.


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The Disappeared

The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author, Gloria Whelan, is a National Book Award winner, and does a terrific job of presenting this story of the Desaparecidos (the disappeared) of Argentina during the 1970's. This story is told from two viewpoints, the voice of Silvia, a teenage girl of some privilege, and that of her older brother, Eduardo. It is scary and enlightening, and a great way to learn of this tragic era in Argentina's history. Perfect for middle school students.  


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Annexed

Annexed by Sharon Dogar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is rather hard to categorize. The events are somewhat true, the characters are real, but the author takes a different approach to the Anne Frank story. Dogar tells the story of the famous Anne Frank from Peter's point of view. Peter is the boy Anne ultimately falls in love with, and is mentioned many times in her diary. We feel his anger and frustration at being held a prisoner in an attic for two years, dealing with some very annoying people (in his eyes), and virtually no privacy. It is still heartbreaking at the end.
This is a more mature retelling of the story, and I would recommend it to 8th graders and up.


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A Tale Dark and Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. This was a great retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story, but done for older kids (and adults). It was gruesome and gory, and amusing at the same time. I enjoyed the author's style, never writing down to his audience. Very readable.


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Lost Childhood

Lost Childhood: My Life in a Japanese Prison Camp During World War II by Annelex Hofstra Layson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A different WWII story, as this was about a Dutch girl who was living on the island of Java when the Japanese took over, and her family became POWs. Annelex is only 4 when the Japanese make her a prisoner. She was one of the "lucky" ones though, because she was able to be with her mom and grandmother.  Her brother, who was only 10, was sent with the men to a different camp. Annelex was subjected to witnessing horrible cruelty and death, but the two women in her life were strong, and were able to keep her alive.
This is a quick, easy read, and a perfect way for middle school students to learn about this phase of history.




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Every Soul a Star

Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a terrific story. As a major solar eclipse is approaching, three very different characters, with very different problems, are brought together at Moonshadow Camp to witness the phenomenon. This unlikely group of kids, with very real problems, quickly become each other's best supporters. Wendy Mass does a fantastic job, I even liked Bree, who was pretty annoying. The characters make you laugh, and sometimes make you cry. Well written, and, I even learned something about the stars. I look forward to reading more of her books.




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The Dream Bearer

The Dream Bearer by Walter Dean Myers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was an interesting little story with a good cast of characters. This is one of Walter Dean Myers' earlier works, but as usual, the setting is Harlem, with it's bustling and colorful streets. David is a 12 year-old who is dealing with a father who is unstable, and a brother who might be running with a rough crowd. He meets an interesting old man in the park, and is drawn to him when the old man informs him that he remembers dreams for people, and has been doing this for hundreds of years.


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